Fruits Basketis one of the most popular slice-of-life romance franchises, ranking as one of the top-selling manga worldwide. The story followsan adorable love trianglebetween chipper protagonist, Tohru, moody Kyo, and shy Yuki. After the Sohmas take Tohru in when they discover she is homeless after a family tragedy, she meets the Sohmas one by one, becoming acquainted with their unique personalities and personal struggles, while attempting to bring peace to the family byremoving their curse that turns them into animals when they hug the opposite gender.
Apart from being an entertaining, emotional story,Fruits Baskethas many life lessons fans can learn from. Tohru is an incredibly positive influence, approaching every situation with a desire to spark joy and soothe hurt feelings, which reminds viewers of the importance of an upbeat outlook and genuine care for others. The series takes a few dark turns, covering topics like abuse, death, and grief, butthe story’s portrayal of these heavy subjects is thoughtful and conveys wisdomthat can help viewers tackle similar issues.
5Forgive Yourself For Past Mistakes and Do Better Next Time
One of theFruits Basketcharacters who struggled most with his past mistakes is Kyo, and the guilt he felt ruled his life for years. When he was much younger,he struck up a friendshipwith Kyoko Sohma, Tohru’s mom, and trusted her deeply as a confidante and friend during a time in his life when everyone else rejected him because he was the zodiac cat. Tragically,Kyoko died in a car accident, and the collision happened right in front of Kyo.
He always regretted not doing something to help, even though it was too late, andhis remorse affected his budding romantic relationship with Tohru.Tohru did not understand why Kyo was so distant and withdrawn until he confessed what was weighing on him, and to his surprise, Tohru immediately forgave him, realizing that there was nothing he could have done to prevent Kyoko’s death, and her compassionate response helped Kyo stop beating himself up. Kyo learned a crucial lesson that pertains to real life too: admonishing yourself over past trangressions does nothing to help you improve and only causes you to wallow in guilt.
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Once Kyo stopped carrying the weight of that experience, his relationship with Tohru deepened and he started developing self-love, something he had never had before. Making a mistake can feel miserable, depending on the severity of the occurrence, but like Kyo modeled,it is far better to use these instances as inspiration for self-improvementrather than excuses to insult yourself.
4Call Out Evil When You See It
Tohru Speaking Out Against Akito’s Abuse Directly Contributed to the Zodiac Curse Breaking
The head of the Sohma family, Akito, was a harsh, abusive person, retaliating with physical violence or cutting remarks anytime someone did something she disagreed with or she felt them becoming distant. In particular, she was cruel to Yuki, lashed out at Shigure for being involved with Ren, emotionally abused Rin, and physically abused Kisa because of her close relationship with Hiro. This is only a small list of the atrocities Akito committed, and because of her status as the highest ranking member in the zodiac story,no one felt they could stand up to Akito’s mistreatment of others.
When Tohru came in to the group by chance, she was revolted by Akito’s childish and inhumane behavior, andeventually mustered up the courage to confront Akito directly.On a few separate occasions, Tohru spoke out against Akito’s evil acts against the Sohma family and her unhealthy possessiveness, and although it earned her Akito’s hatred for a while, she eventually empowered a few of the Sohmas to realize Akito’s conduct was unacceptable. Because of Tohru’s bold actions, she directly contributed to breaking the curse that kept the Sohmas trapped for so long.
Eventually, Akito did apologize and put distance between herself and the family, realizing the only way to respond after her years of abuse was to let the Sohmas live in peace. Had Tohru never come along to bring justice to the situation though, the Sohmas may have stayed living in this disrespectful, harmful dynamic forever,proving how important it is to speak out against evil situations.
3Always Be Kind to Everyone, Even if They Don’t Return the Favor
Tohru’s Character Arc Proves That Small Acts of Kindness Can Be Potentially Life Changing
Tohru Honda might be anime’s nicest character,and she is almost kind to a fault. ThroughoutFruits Basket, her genuinely caring personality served her well, helping her develop loving relationships with even the most introverted and emotionally reserved characters and even breaking the Zodiac Curse that ruined the Sohma family’s lives for so long. Tohru’s level of goodwill was life-changing for others, like Kyo.
Because he was the Cat Zodiac, the most hated zodiac animal, he had not experienced much love, so he was caught off guard by Tohru’s willingness to take care of him and get to know him. Although he resisted at first,her patient efforts helped him make his first true friend, and later, even fall in love for the first time. Tohru is not kind to receive something in return though, her good deeds are simply a reflection of her pure heart. Although she was just being affectionate as normal, she unwittingly changed the Sohma family’s lives, serving as the catalyst for change that they so desperately needed after years of being entrenched in in a toxic dynamic.
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Tohru’s friendliness earned her the favor of nearly everyone in the family, everyone from quieter individuals like Hatsuharu to bubblier members like Momiji. Everyone trusted her because of her unselfish offers to help and lend a listening ear, andshe became the most pivotal non-family member in the Sohma circle.Had Tohru not acted so warm and selfless, Kyo might have lived his entire life alone, Yuki never would have found a voice for himself, and the other Sohmas would be equally as miserable, so her story goes to show the profound impact small acts of kindness can have.
2Those Who Lash Out at Others Are Often in Pain Themselves
Kyo and Akito’s Character Arcs Show That Those Who Act Cruel Are Often Suffering Internal Burdens
Kyo Sohma seemed like a mean bully, lashing out at anyone who showed him attention and treating Yuki with particular disdain. He was not the only member of the Sohmas to adopt a blunt, standoffish personality; Akito went as far as physical and emotional abuse to other members of the family.It quickly became evident that both of these characters were in deep painthemselves, and although this fact does not excuse their resulting cruelty, it helps explain why they were so quick to react in anger.
Kyo lived his entire life as an outcast, ridiculed and pushed away by others in the family for something as uncontrollable as his placein the zodiac signs. He decided to never trust anyone as an act of protection,not even letting well-meaning individuals like Tohru close because he fearedshe would not love him anymore if she got to know him better. Akito faced similar internal challenges because even though she was the powerful god of the zodiac, she felt powerless to keep people by her side.
When other members of the zodiac formed deep connections with each other or members outside the family, Akito’s jealousy raged and led her to violence in hopes of breaking them down enough to stick by her. Both of these coping mechanisms were not only unhealthy to others, but to themselves, and by the end of the story, both Kyo and Akito developed better techniques for controlling and working through their own pain, and everyone’s lives improved as a result. Kyo and Akito’s character arcs both go to show that oftenthose who act the most hard-hearted are carrying heavy burdens themselves.
1You Have To Accept Who You Are Before You Can Truly Love Others
to have fulfilling relationships with others, it is crucial to have self-love, andno two characters highlight this more effectively than Kyo and Yuki.Kyo and Yuki were virtual opposites, but grappling with the same low confidence and feelings of isolation from others.As a romance anime,Fruits Basketis all about love, but not just romantic love. These characters' arcs reveal another important type of love the series covers: self-love.
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Kyo was nearly exiled from the Sohma family and felt lonely as a result, while Yuki could not be any more popular, but felt no one understood who he truly was and only loved him for superficial reasons like his physical appearance. Because both of them were so insecure, they struggled to bond with others and pushed everyone away because it felt safer. When Tohru came along,she challenged both of them with her eagerness to know them authentically,not just the personas they portrayed to the world.
By the end ofFruits Basket,Yuki began to put his own needs first, becoming Student Council President, finding a girlfriend he loved, Machi, and becoming more outspoken, while Kyo accepted his true zodiac form and stopped hiding from others, admitting his love for Tohru and having it reciprocated. Yuki and Kyo could not have healthy relationships, romantic or platonic,until they discovered how to love themselves, which is one of many simple but powerful life lessons inFruits Basket.
Fruits Basket
Cast
Fruits Basket (2019) is an anime adaptation following Tohru Honda, a high school girl who ends up living with the mysterious Sohma family. She discovers that twelve members of the Sohma clan are cursed to transform into animals of the Chinese zodiac when embraced by the opposite sex. The series delves into the lives and challenges faced by the cursed members while exploring themes of acceptance, friendship, and personal growth.
